STOCKTON - Wearing a blue space jumpsuit is something children can only imagine.

For the children of San Joaquin County, however, a space suit is now within reach - literally.

Former astronaut Jose Hernandez, who grew up in Stockton, donated to the Children's Museum of Stockton one of the uniforms he wore while flying T-38 jets in preparation for his 2009 mission aboard the recently retired shuttle Discovery.

Bearing a National Aeronautics and Space Administration emblem on the chest - and an American flag on the left arm - the suit will be displayed in a galaxy room for thousands of young dreamers to admire, and imagine themselves in it.

Hernandez, 48, delivered the uniform Friday afternoon.

Before the exchange, he spoke to dozens of wide-eyed children anxious to meet a real astronaut at the museum.

Summer day campers gathered on a center carpet to hear an out-of-this-world adventure, Hernandez's account of delivering science equipment and supplies to the orbiting International Space Station.

"Just 23 months ago, I went to space," Hernandez told his small listeners.

On launch day - Aug. 28, 2009 - the engines fired up four seconds before liftoff at Cape Canaveral.

"All of a sudden I start hearing vibrations," Hernandez enthralled the children. "It's kinda like your big brother shaking you a lot."

"Do you know how long it takes to get into space?" he asked them.

The guesses poured in. "50," shouted one of the children.

"It takes 8 1/2 minutes," he said. "It's like the best ride Disneyland can give you. All of a sudden you're kinda loosey-goosey."

The tale had suspense and wonder. And it was real.

"I was thinking it's awesome to have someone that's been in space floating around to be here," said 11-year-old Nathan Leslie, a summer camper who lives in Ripon.

Hernandez said he wants to inspire youth to believe their goals can become reality, and by sharing his story at the museum, children might be affected that way.

"If you go to school and study hard, you can be an astronaut from Stockton, too," he told the group of kids.

The exhibit, which is still under construction, is a dark theater painted with a glow-in-the-dark mural of space marvels - the Milky Way, the solar system and constellations - by local artist Ronna Roberts. Hernandez's suit will be displayed in a case. A film he donated of his space mission will play continuously.